Losing the Weights

"If you want to be distressed look within.

If you want to be defeated look back. 

If you want to be distracted look around. 

If you want to be dismayed look ahead. 

If you want to be delivered look up!"

         Those words were spoken by our guest speaker, JR Woodward, at the Baptist Collegiate Ministry conference last month. I really took those words to heart in realizing how distracted I've been in my walk with God. There are many times I find that I allow other's opinions and decisions to affect mine own, and I let the fear and worry of approval form others to guide my actions. For as long as I can remember, I've had a fear of public speaking and stage fright, I've never tried to do anything that would make someone disapprove of me, and I've tried my hardest to stay out of drama, be nice to others, and say all the right words just so people would like me. But if I am constantly trying to say all the right words seeking approval, I'm not really being myself, and that isn't fair to others, especially my friends. I began to question myself asking, "Why do I allow the approval of others to affect my life decisions?" I shouldn't have to constantly worry about what other people might think, especially about myself. But what's wrong with wanting to be liked? Nothing, only if it hinders your relationship with God does it become a problem.

     See, God doesn't want you to let the things of this world shape you and mold you into who they want you to be. For it is said, "Keep your mind on things above, not on worldly things."(Colossians 3:2). And so we must live in this way. That we keep our eyes focused on God and continue to move ahead in our walk with Him.

      The main passage that we focused on that weekend was Hebrews 12:1-2:"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

     At the conference, we had three breakout sessions, of which the last one (for me personally) was the most impactful of all the sessions. It was given the name "Losing the Weights", where we all sat around in a circle and shared struggles in our walk of life and faith. The woman who led the session had words posted on the wall of things that hinder our walk with God, and asked for us to take down one at a time to discuss within the group circle. It amazed me that so many people were so vulnerable and willing to share right off the spot, and it was truly encouraging. But the one thing that really stood out to me in that session was when she showed us the analogy of our sins as being weights. She showed that each and every sin (fear, anxiety, insecurities, bitterness, unforgiveness, pride, conceit) is an added weight. We begin carrying dumbbells and have chains wrapped around us constricting us and slowing our walk with God. If we choose to still carry those weights, it hinders us from being able to share the Gospel with others. Then, she showed us how we can let go of all those weights and break free from those chains once we decide to lay down our burdens daily before the Lord and take up our cross and follow Him. Through Jesus Christ's death and resurrection, we don't have to carry those burdens anymore. We are set free!

     For the longest time, I've let the burdens from my past and up to that day, weigh down my shoulders, but after that session I felt revived. I realized that my fear and insecurities should be rid of, and that my true focus should be only on God. I was finally able to let go of my chains to continue running the race that God has marked out for me.

     There were also some verses that the woman had shared with us to look over in our spare time, and I have posted them below for y'all to read that go along with specific topics:

Anxiety/Fear:

     Psalm 27:1

     2 Timothy 1:7

Insecurity: 

     Philippians 4:6-8

     Ephesians 6:10-15

     Psalm 9:1-4

Sin:

     1 John 1:9

     Galatians 2:20

     Psalm 19:14

Shame:

     Revelation 21:4

Bitterness/Unforgiveness:

     Ephesians 4:26-32

Pride/Conceit:

     James 4:6

Complacency/Apathy:

     Romans 12:9-13

Excuses/Doubt:

     Jeremiah 1:4-10

     Proverbs 3:5-6

     Mark 4:24

(Forgive me if I wrote down the wrong number of a verse by accident, I had trouble reading the board without my glasses.)

     On that same day, I learned to let go of my fear, my worries, and all the sin that has been holding me back. I learned that every day isn't going to be easy, that there will be struggles in our lives, but what you do with it is up to you. Jesus said, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it."(Matthew 16:24-25). So we must daily take up our cross and follow Jesus Christ, for He is the way to true life. In this I do believe! So I encourage you all to "Lose your Weights" by letting go of the sin that so easily entangles, so that you may continue your walk with God and share His message with others.

God Bless!